Telephone set



Oct. 6, 1953 H. P. BOSWAU ETAL TELEPHONE SET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 20, 1944 1953 H. P. BoswAu ET AL 2,554,811

TELEPHONE SET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 20, 1944 ufzearazmer Cl 0%);5 j. 3 sex an.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 IELEPHONE ism glans P.'Bo swau,--Dundee, and Alexander C.-- Reid,

Genoa, -I-l l.,assignors to Leich Electric Goinxpanmfienba, 111., 1a corporation of Illinois pr z n a i a on July :20, 1944, Seria 9- ..545;7-6 D lv ediana thi a p cation new? 1m ficri liNa 1 1 0 (Cl. Elk-146) 8:Glaims. #1 This application is -a division of application 'Ser. No. 545,760, filed I J YZO 1 944, new Patent No. 2,492,375, issued lDecem'ber '27, L949.

1 The invention'is concernedwith telephone sets,

and its particular object is to provide a telephone s set having a new cradle structure comprisin pivotally 'mounteda'dapter --means, as i a normal and substantially permanent part'thereof, which adapts the telephone set for --instan t selective use eitherupon --a horizontal surface such-as iormed by a desk or-upona verticalsurfacesuch as formed by a wall.

This object is realized in one formof'the -invention-by the provision of a-cradlestructure comprising an integral angulargplatelikemember having a pivotally mounted arm or portion which is disposed-above the switch plungers in parallel with the-base and-an arm 'or portion which extends perpendicular thereto, -and in another "form of the invention by the provision -of a cradle structure comprising a -pla-telike adapter memberwhich-may be positioned between the switch plungers in parallel with --the ;base or perpendicular to the base, =-thus furnishing in either case a two -per-manently available -cradle 2 seats-for a hand -telephonaonefor desk use and the other for w'alluse.

"-Another obj ectof I the inventionis to provide a cradlestructurecomprising a movablymounte'd integral member "forming -two permanently available cradle seats, "one for --deskuse and one for wall use of I the I corresponding telephone set, and means=formedby said-member as a part of one of said i cradle" seats for actuating the-switch 'hook plungcrs -in-- either f -ormof"use:=of =the telephone-set.

A furtherobject is toprovidea cradle structure havinga depression or recess betweentheusual pairs of tines at eithenend-of -the. cradle -portion of the cover of a telephone set, whichiorm part of a first-cradle seat,and agplatelikamember -pivotally i disposed 1 "in said -depression -ior forming-a second"cradle seat extending perpendicular- -to' the plane of the-first seat.

The above intimatediobjeotsand other objects and features will=appear from the description of the invention wliich is 'rendered below -with reference: to the accompanying drawings. 111 these drawings,

L -Fig. 1 is azdiagrammaticselevational side view Divan :embo'dimentl of aihtelephone i-set. made in accor dance ,with $131183 invention, as zlseen when :used as; a desk setawith someparts ofcthe cradle structure in section [tot indicate details;

Fig. 2 1 illustrates the;tele honeasetuofi 1 when mounted on a wall;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional viewillustrating a modified cradle structure as it appears when the corresponding-telephone set is used as adesk set;

Fig. 4 is a View in side elevationshowingthe parts of the cradle structure of Fig. 3 in 'the position occupied when the corresponding set is mounted on a wall; and

Fig. 5 illustrates adiagrammatic plane view of the cradle structure-shown in Fi'gI -B.

Like parts are numbered alike throughoutme drawings. Known elements and details-Will ;be desoribed only to the extent required for -conveying an: understanding of the "invention.

The embodiment of the telephone set-shown in Figs. 1 and} comprisesabase I'll-and a cover l l forming a support-for a handtelephone-sho w-n diagrammatically in section at 12. Deta ils o f the telephone set, as -we1l as-of-thehand telephone per se, including the-usual ringing and switching equipment and the wiring th'erefcr,

'form no partofthe-invention have therefore been omitted. A dial may be M furnished as a part of thetelephone set,- as indicatedat 3.

The base it! is pmvided withresilient --feet-l- 4 for placing theset either upon -a;horizonta1}sur face which may be f ormed by a desk, as indicated in Fig. 1,-Ol'fOr mounting it on a wall, as

indicatedinFig l In the lattercase the mount- ;ing may be accomplished in any desired and suitable manner.

In the cradle portion of the -cover ll' is formed a recess I 5 for accommodating the ar -m r an angular adapter ;integral plate member which extends within the recess 15- above; the switch hook plungers I 1 laterally across{ the when the telephone set is-employed as ,a desk set. The tines l-fla projecting froni theeradle portion of the cover-J l definethe limitsof jzhe firstcradleseat in forwarddirection, one such tine of course being providedat-ea'ch "end "i 8 of the cradle.

The second cradle seat; :for useiwhen the telephone. set is mountedvon a wall, as indicated in Fig. 2, is formed bynthe.platelikeiarmor portion 20 of the adapter. mem'ber whichais disposedtper pendiculanto the, arm :16 andintegral therewith.

:The hp *2] L :functions Kin'EthB-QPatHIELIOf iqtines to define the limits of the second cradle seat in forward direction and to hold the hand telephone against accidental displacement. Tines may of course take the place of the lip 21 and, if desired, relatively long projections, one at either end of the arm or portion [6, and each provided with a lip such as 2| may take the place of the platelike arm 20.

When the telephone set is used on a desk, with the hand telephone l2 resting on the hinged plate portion 16 of the adapter member, the weight of the hand set is directly over the switch plungers H, depressing the plungers. The platelike portion l6 of the adapter member thus functions as a first cradle seat which is effective when the telephone set is positioned on a horizontal surface and also functions as a means for actuating the switch plungers. Removal of the hand set causes the plungers I! to move upwardly from the full-line depressed position into the dotted-line position, thus angularly displacing the adapter member counter-clockwise into its dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1. 7

When the device is mounted on a wall in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the hand telephone resting on the second cradle seat formed by the arm or portion 20, which is integral with the platelike arm 16, the weight of the hand set [2 tends to rotate the angular adapter member clockwise, thus holding the plungers I! in depressed position. The arm [6 of the adapter member, which forms the first cradle seat, is thus also effective to actuate the switch plungers when the set is positioned on a vertical surface. Removal of the hand set causes operation of the plungers, as in the previous case, thus again displacing the adapter member counterclockwise into the dotted-line position, as shown in Fig. l.

The only changes required to convert the telephone set from a desk to a wall set involve fastening the base 10 to a wall and, if a dial I3 is used, turning such dial around so that its symbols and numerals are in correct upright position.

The modified cradle structure illustrated in Figs. 3-5 provides for a support or cover ll,

having the usual pairs of tines 25--26 forming part of a first cradle seat, and also providing apertures such as 21, for the usual switch hook .plungers 28. A platelike adapter member 29 is disposed in a depression or recess 30 extending between the elevated portions lid and Nb at either end of the cradle, and is hinged at 3|. Notches 29a and 29b are formed in the opposite edges of the platelike member 29 to provide clearance for the corresponding sides of the switch hook plungers 28. The plate 29 forms a lip 32 which is disposed at an angle to the plane of its body portion and extends in the position shown in Figs. 3 and into a recess 33 formed in the cover I I.

The platelike adapter member 29 thus forms part of the first cradle seat for the hand telephone IZ, as shown in Fig. 3, when the corresponding telephone set is used as a desk set. The plungers 28 are operated in obvious manner directly by the hand telephone.

The platelike member 29 is rotated into the position shown in Fig. 4 to provide a second cradle seat for receiving the hand telephone [2 when the telephone set is mounted on a wall. The switch hook plungers are in this form of use of the telephone set again operated directly by the hand telephone in a manner which will be presently described more in detail. The changes required to convert the telephone set from desk to wall use thus involve, as in the previous case, mounting of the set on a wall, turning around the dial, if such is used, to position its symbols and numerals properly and, in addition, swinging the platelike member into the position shown in Fig. 4 to provide the second cradle seat for wall use.

It will be observed that the axes of the switch hook plungers 28 are disposed off-center transversely of the first cradle seat, and that their free ends are bevelled, with the axially longest portion of each plunger adjacent and relatively close to the plane of the adapter plate 29 and parallel therewith when the adapter plate is in theposition to form the second cradle seat, as shown in Fig. 4. This is done to assure operation of the plungers by the hand set I2 when the hand telephone is replaced on the second cradle seat. The hand set engages the tips of the bevelled ends of the plungers at its widest portion, in a wedging action, urging them inwardly as it moves into its resting position on the adapter plate 29. The outward pressure of the plungers against the hand set I2, in the resting position shown in Fig. 4, acts to press the hand set downwardly on its seat and laterally against the lip 32, securing it in position.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the accompanying claims in which is defined what is considered new and desired to have protected by Letters Patent of the United States.

We claim:

1. A telephone set for instant selective use as a set mounted on a horizontal surface such as formed by a desk or for use as a set mounted on a vertical surface such as formed by a wall, said set having a cover which comprises a cradle portion for supporting the handle element of a hand telephone and having switch plungers movably disposed in said cradle portion and tine means extending from said cradle portion at each end thereof, an adapter member disposed on said cradle portion, said adapter member comprising a platelike portion extending along the space between said tine means to form a first seat for the handle element of said hand telephone which extends underneath such handle element thereof when said set is mounted on a horizontal surface, an integral extension projecting from said plate-like portion at an angle thereto to form part of a second seat for the handle element of said hand telephone when said set is mounted on a vertical surface, and means for pivotally securing said adapter member on said cradle portion as a substantially permanent fixture thereof to make said first and said second seats effective for cooperation with said hand telephone in the two respective mounting positions of said set.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said switch plungers are operatively actuated responsive to displacement of said hand telephone relative to either of said cradle seats directly by said platelike portion of said adapter member forming said first seat which extends underneath the handle element of said hand telephone when said set is mounted on a horizontal surface.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said integral extension projecting from said platelike portion of said adapter member comprises a similar platelike portion which forms said second seat for the handle element of said hand telephone when said set is mounted on a vertical surface, and a lip formed at the free end of said similar platelike portion to define the outer end of said second seat.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said integral extension projecting from said platelike portion of said adapter member comprises a similar platelike portion which extends perpendicular thereto and forms said second seat for the handle element of said hand telephone when said set is mounted on a vertical surface, and a lip formed at the free end of said similar platelike portion to define the outer end of said second seat.

5. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said platelike portion of said adapter member extends in a plane along said cradle portion underneath the handle element of said hand telephone in the space between said switch plungers and in parallel with the plane of said cradle portion when said set is mounted on a horizontal surface.

6. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said platelike portion of said adapter member extends in a plane along said cradle portion underneath the handle element of said hand telephone in the space between said switch plungers and in parallel with the plane of said cradle portion when said set is mounted on a horizontal surface and wherein such platelike portion extends in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said cradle portion when said set is mounted on a vertical surface.

7. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said switch plungers are operatively actuated responsive to displacement of said hand tele phone relative to either of said cradle seats directly by the handle element of said hand te1ephone.

8. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said switch plungers are disposed off-center transversely of said cradle portion for operative actuation thereof responsive to displacement of said hand telephone relative to either of said cradle seats directly by the handle element of said hand telephone.

HANS P. BOSWAU. ALEXANDER C. REID.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,277,280 Vaugh Mar. 24, 1942 2,277,296 Burfeind Mar. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 66,494 Norway Dec. 6, 1943 

